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Marriage

The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601

Your wedding day will be here before you know it. At Saint Jude Catholic Church we want to help give you the tools to live a sacramental marriage for the rest of your lives. The process at Saint Jude or any parish in the Archdiocese will take 8-12 months to complete. Below are the steps to help you complete the preparation journey.

Step One

Contact the Parish Office at 303.988.6435 or shensley@saintjudelakewood.org to set up an initial meeting to go over the process of Marriage Preparation.

Step Two

At the meeting with one of our deacons, you will complete the FOCCUS inventory and pay deposit for holding the church for your wedding. They will also discuss the rest of the process and determine if you are free to marry and understand the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Step Three

You will attend a Marriage Builder Weekend which is a great opportunity to grow in your deeper relationship with each other and your relationship with God.  It is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Denver. Light of the World and Saint Thomas Moore are host sites for the preparation. You can register for these classes on line at Archden.org.

Step Four

As a couple you are asked to complete a Natural Family Planning course. That can be a three session course with the Couple-to-Couple League or an individual online instruction with the Symtopro Fertility Education. This step helps couples to enrich their relationship and understand the natural cycles of fertility and infertility. The Archdiocese of Denver site to choose your program and register is: archden.org/eflm/nfp.

Step Five

You will review the FOCUS Inventory with the deacon preparing you for marriage.

Step Six

You will be meeting with the Wedding Coordinator to plan the details of the wedding and also one of the Directors of Music to select music and musicians.

Step Seven

You will pick your all the readings, prayers and marriage rites with the deacon or priest for your ceremony.

The spouses, ministers of Christ’s grace, mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. The priest (or deacon) who assists at the celebration of a marriage receives the consent of the spouses in the name of the Church and gives the blessing of the Church.

Those who wish to be married at St. Jude Church must be registered in the parish for at least one year. Sons and daughters of registered parishioners may also be married here. A 12-month preparation period is required.

Contact Ed Dill at edill@saintjudelakewood.org to plan the music for your wedding. A list of music suggestions is available on request.

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